UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Earlier in April, the UN Security Council voted in favor of an arms embargo against the Houthis, a militant group that has seized parts of Yemen, including the capital.
The statement comes after Benomar’s final briefing to the Security Council as special adviser on Yemen.
The UN official said he had informed the Council on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen, where thousands of people have been killed, including many civilians, and more than 150,000 have been displaced amid ongoing hostilities.
“I also warned that the spectre of food insecurity has widened to threaten more than 12 million Yemenis,” Benomar said in his statement.
Benomar noted that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is benefiting from the current chaos and will continue to thrive unless a solution to the crisis is found.
In conclusion, the outgoing adviser underscored that achieving lasting peace and stability in Yemen can only be reached through peaceful negotiations “free from interference and coercion from outside forces.”
Saudi Arabia, alongside several other Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, began carrying out airstrikes against Houthi positions in late March following a request from Yemen's President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.
Last week, the coalition said it stopped the airstrikes campaign and launched the so-called Restoring Hope operation focused on counter-terrorism measures and revival of a political dialogue between the rivaling sides.
